San Antonians gathered Thursday, June 19, at the Hilton Airport Hotel for the 2008 WaterSaver Awards Luncheon. Winners have demonstrated innovative approaches in technology, education, and business in conserving water.
Winners include several local businesses and non-profit organizations. Collectively, those honored through the WaterSaver Awards program over the past 12 years have reduced water consumption in San Antonio by an astounding 1.5 billion gallons per year.
“When we began this event twelve years ago, saving water was a novel concept in San Antonio,” said Karen Guz, SAWS Water Conservation Director. “Now with twelve years of winners, there is a solid knowledge base on which others can build. These winners and their precedents have provided great models that have been adapted and used by others at the local, state, and even national levels.”
Proceeds from the WaterSaver Awards Luncheon go towards the Water Conservation Fellowship Fund, which benefits college students pursuing a water management related career.
WaterSaver Awards are sponsored by SAWS and KONO 101.1 Radio with the assistance of the San Antonio Business Journal.
The 2008 WaterSaver winners once again provide extraordinary examples of water conservation:
2008 WaterSaver Leadership Award Recipient
Frank Thomas
Through his membership with the SAWS Community Conservation Committee, Frank Thomas, energy manager for the Northside Independent School District, helped create a pilot program to retrofit high-flow toilets in several Northside schools. The program saved more than $25 million in energy and water costs, and provided a model that quickly expanded to all school districts, colleges and universities within SAWS service area, saving over 100 million gallons of water per year.
2008 WaterSaver Educator Award Recipient
Sherie Gee
Sherie Gee, Aquatic Science and AP Environmental Science teacher at John Paul Stevens High School, is dedicated to her students and the environment, specifically water literacy. As a sponsor with SAWS’ Student Water Action Team service learning program for high school students, Gee led her team of young apprentices in a water quality study of Heritage Duck Pond in northwest San Antonio. Their findings helped identify potential sources of pollution and possible solutions.
2008 WaterSaver Pioneer Award
SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio, established in 1988, is known for its efforts in protecting marine life. When it comes to protecting water resources, the 250-acre marine life adventure park is equally ambitious. Water conservation at SeaWorld San Antonio saves more than 25 million gallons of water a year. Notable features include an extensive water recovery system for all marine pools, recycling air-conditioning condensate to operate decorative fountains and to irrigate hanging plants, retrofitting 309 toilets to high-efficiency models, and using drought tolerant landscaping throughout the park.
 2008 WaterSaver Award Recipients
This year’s WaterSaver Award winners are all hotels that – through SAWS WaterSaver Hotel Program – have retrofitted guest rooms with high-efficiency dual-flush toilets and 1.5 gallon per minute showerheads and aerators. When replacing this many high water use fixtures, water savings are significant.
The Courtyard Marriott
In November 2007, the Courtyard Marriott completed retrofitting 149 hotel rooms. The new installations are saving 3 million gallons per year.
The Hilton Airport Hotel
In September 2007, the Hilton Airport Hotel completed retrofitting 396 hotel rooms. Total water savings adds up to 7 million gallons per year.
The Holiday Inn Select
In December 2007, the Holiday Inn Select completed retrofitting 397 hotel rooms. Water savings are 7 million gallons per year.
WaterSaver Too Award Recipients
This year’s WaterSaver Too Award recipients include four organizations whose collective efforts during the 2008 Season to Save Community Challenge resulted in the distribution of more than 1,200 high-efficiency toilets to qualified SAWS customers, as well as two groups that implemented smart methods to conserve water.
East Central High School Choir Booster Club
When completed, the retrofit of 197 high-efficiency toilets will save about 2.3 million gallons per year.
Bexar County 4-H
When completed, the retrofit of 364 high-efficiency toilets will save about 4.3 million gallons per year.
House of Prayer Church
When completed, the retrofit of 324 high-efficiency toilets will save about 3.8 million gallons per year.
The Valencia Homeowners Association
When completed, the retrofit of 319 high-efficiency toilets will save about 3.8 million gallons per year.
The Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
The Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center’s new building was designed to capture both rainwater and air conditioning condensate for irrigation of drought-tolerant landscaping.
Lee Dental Centers
In December 2007, Lee Dental Centers converted all dental vacuum systems at each of its four locations from water-cooled to air-cooled units, saving more than 500,000 gallons per year.
2008 Water Conservation Fellowship Recipients
Kelly Gambill
A junior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Kelly Gambill is pursuing a degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resources. Kelly is the current president of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and will complete her studies in May 2010.
Xamara Caballero
A graduate student at St. Mary’s University, Xamara Caballero is pursuing a Master of Public Administration in the political science department. Xamara is a student member of the Texas City Management Association and has been an active participant in many natural resource issues.
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